The 2025 Skills in Demand Report by Jobs and Skills Australia confirms that employer-sponsored migration remains important for addressing Australia’s workforce shortages. For employers, the report highlights the need for genuine roles, correct occupation selection, salary compliance and strong supporting evidence. For skilled workers, it confirms that opportunities remain strong in sectors such as healthcare, engineering, construction, information technology, childcare, hospitality and trades where employer sponsorship is available.
The report does not change visa law by itself. However, it provides valuable labour market evidence that may influence future migration planning, occupation lists, salary settings and employer-sponsored visa policy.
What Is the 2025 Skills in Demand Report?
The 2025 Skills in Demand Report was published by Jobs and Skills Australia as part of the Australian Government’s broader migration reform agenda. It reviews the early operation of the Skills in Demand visa, which replaced the previous Temporary Skill Shortage framework while continuing under subclass 482.
The report examines how the Skills in Demand visa is operating across three main streams:
Specialist Skills Stream
This stream is designed for highly skilled workers in higher-income roles where Australia needs advanced expertise.
Core Skills Stream
This stream applies to occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List, commonly known as CSOL, where there is evidence of workforce demand.
Labour Agreement Stream
This stream allows employers to sponsor workers under approved labour agreements where standard visa settings may not fully address industry or regional workforce needs.
The main purpose of the report is to assess whether Australia’s employer-sponsored migration program is helping businesses fill genuine labour shortages while protecting Australian workers and sponsored visa holders.
Understanding the Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482
The Skills in Demand visa subclass 482 allows an approved Australian employer to sponsor a suitably skilled overseas worker when the employer cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker for the position.
This visa is now one of the key employer-sponsored pathways for businesses that need skilled staff. It is commonly relevant to industries such as healthcare, construction, engineering, information technology, hospitality, childcare, manufacturing, agriculture and regional services.
The visa may also support a future permanent residency pathway, including through the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme, if the employer, occupation, salary, nomination and visa requirements are met. However, a 482 visa should not be treated as an automatic PR pathway. Each stage must be assessed separately.
Why the Report Matters
The 2025 Skills in Demand Report is important because it connects migration planning with real labour market evidence. It helps employers understand how sponsorship may support workforce planning where local recruitment is not enough. It also helps skilled workers identify sectors where employer demand may create stronger visa opportunities.
For migration professionals, the report provides useful insight into how government policy is being shaped by workforce shortages, salary outcomes, occupation demand and employer sponsorship trends.
In simple terms, the report confirms that employer-sponsored migration remains a major part of Australia’s strategy to address skill shortages.
Key Findings from the Skills in Demand Report
Employer-Sponsored Migration Remains Important
The report shows that employer-sponsored migration continues to support Australian businesses that cannot fill skilled roles locally. Many employers still face recruitment challenges in professional, technical, trade and care-based occupations.
Industries that continue to experience strong workforce demand include healthcare, aged care, childcare, engineering, construction, information technology, cyber security, manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture and regional services.
For employers, the Skills in Demand visa can be a valuable option where there is a genuine business need and the nominated position meets visa requirements. For skilled workers, this means Australia continues to offer opportunities where their qualifications, experience and occupation match employer demand.
Salary Compliance Is Critical
Salary is now one of the most important parts of 482 visa planning. Under the Skills in Demand framework, employers must meet the relevant income threshold and Annual Market Salary Rate requirements.
For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the relevant salary thresholds are:
Core Skills Income Threshold
AUD 79,423
Specialist Skills Income Threshold
AUD 146,576
Employers must remember that meeting the income threshold alone is not enough. The nominated salary must also meet the Annual Market Salary Rate. This means the sponsored worker should not be paid less than an Australian worker performing equivalent work in the same business and location.
Before lodging a nomination, employers should review employment contracts, award or enterprise agreement coverage, comparable Australian worker salaries, market salary evidence, position descriptions, work location, hours of work, payroll records and business documents.
CSOL Is Central to Occupation Planning
The Core Skills Occupation List is central to the Core Skills stream. It helps identify occupations that are relevant to Australia’s workforce needs and makes occupation planning more important for both employers and applicants.
A job title alone is not enough. The nominated role must match the selected occupation in substance. The duties, qualifications, experience and business need should all support the occupation being nominated.
Commonly relevant areas may include software engineering, ICT business analysis, registered nursing, childcare, commercial cookery, motor mechanics, mechanical engineering, accounting, construction trades and engineering professions.
Employers and applicants should always check the current occupation list before lodging because occupation settings can change.
Labour Agreements Continue to Matter
The report also highlights the importance of Labour Agreements. A Labour Agreement may assist employers in sectors where standard visa settings do not fully meet long-term workforce needs.
Labour Agreements may be relevant for aged care, agriculture, hospitality, meat processing, regional businesses and large infrastructure projects. However, they are not automatic. Employers must provide detailed evidence and justification, and these applications usually require careful planning.
What This Means for Australian Employers
For Australian employers, the Skills in Demand framework creates opportunities but also increases compliance expectations. Sponsorship should not be treated as a shortcut to fill any vacancy. Each nomination must show a genuine position, correct occupation selection, salary compliance and proper business need.
( After the visa is granted, employers must continue to meet sponsorship obligations. This includes paying the correct salary, keeping records, notifying relevant changes and ensuring the sponsored worker works in the nominated position.)
What This Means for Skilled Workers
For skilled workers, the report confirms that Australia continues to need qualified workers in many industries. However, securing a 482 visa requires more than finding an employer.
Applicants must usually show that they have the right skills, experience, English ability and background for the nominated occupation. Some occupations may also require registration, licensing or a skills assessment.
Skilled Worker Checklist
Before applying, applicants should review whether the occupation is eligible, whether the job duties match the occupation, whether their experience is relevant, whether a skills assessment is required, whether they meet English requirements, and whether the role may support future PR planning.
The reduction of the general work experience requirement to at least one year in many cases has made the pathway more accessible. However, applicants must still demonstrate that their experience is relevant and suitable for the nominated position.
Common 482 Visa Mistakes to Avoid
Employers should avoid selecting the wrong occupation, using a job title that does not match the duties, offering a salary below the required level, failing to prove the Annual Market Salary Rate, providing weak Labour Market Testing evidence, and lodging inconsistent contracts or position descriptions.
Skilled workers should avoid relying only on job titles, submitting incomplete employment references, claiming unrelated experience, ignoring licensing requirements, assuming the 482 automatically leads to PR, or starting work with a new employer before the correct nomination approval.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Skills in Demand Report confirms that employer-sponsored migration remains important to Australia’s workforce strategy. For employers, it highlights the need for genuine workforce planning, correct occupation selection, salary compliance and strong documentation. For skilled workers, it confirms that opportunities remain available where their occupation, experience and employer support align with Australia’s labour market needs.
If you are an Australian employer planning to sponsor overseas talent, or a skilled worker exploring the Skills in Demand subclass 482 visa, Knowbal Migration can assist with eligibility assessment, sponsorship planning, nomination preparation and end-to-end visa support.
1 Can small businesses sponsor workers under the Skills in Demand subclass 482 visa?
Yes, small businesses may sponsor overseas workers if they meet the sponsorship, nomination and compliance requirements. The business must show that the nominated role is genuine, the salary meets the relevant income threshold and Annual Market Salary Rate, and the applicant has the right skills and experience for the position.
2 Does the 482 visa require Labour Market Testing?
Labour Market Testing may be required for many 482 nominations unless an exemption applies. Employers should check the latest requirements before lodging, as incorrect advertising, expired advertising or missing evidence can affect the nomination outcome.
3 Can a 482 visa holder change employer in Australia?
Yes, a 482 visa holder may change employer, but the new employer generally needs to lodge and have a new nomination approved before the worker can start working for them. The applicant should not begin work with the new sponsor until the correct approval is in place.
4 Can family members be included in a Skills in Demand 482 visa application?
Yes, eligible family members such as a partner and dependent children may be included in the 482 visa application or may apply later as subsequent entrants. They must meet the relevant health, character and relationship requirements.
5 Is a skills assessment required for a 482 visa?
A skills assessment is not required for every 482 visa applicant, but it may be required depending on the occupation, passport country, stream or individual circumstances. Applicants should check the specific requirements for their nominated occupation before lodging.
